The Exchange

College debt and the cost of higher education are major issues of the 2020 presidential primary. Democratic candidates, and President Trump, have announced a variety of plans, such as free public college or student loan forgiveness. We look at the proposals, and the role of higher education issues in this election. 

Original air date: Wednesday, December 4, 2019. 

We check in on how Granite State voters have experienced the N.H. primary season thus far and why many say this political institution is changing.  We talk with the producers of NHPR's new podcast Stranglehold, an investigation into the power and people behind the primary, about how the house-party tradition is holding up against larger candidate events & selfie lines.

Oyster farming is growing in New Hampshire’s “hidden coast,"  the Great Bay.  It’s one of just a few foods that you can put on your plate that can actively make the environment cleaner as it grows.  We check in on the effort to use bivalves to restore the Great Bay, and on the businesses that are bringing N.H. oysters to market.  Hosted by  Sam Evans-Brown of Outside/In.

Air Date: Monday, December 2, 2019

Whether you’re stuck in traffic or stuck in the kitchen as Thanksgiving nears, we have some ideas for great podcast listening. These on-demand shows have exploded in the last decade, and are now being used for in-depth reporting, to influence policy, and as educational tools. We discuss the latest podcasts, and the role podcasts are playing in the media industry.

Read on for all our recommendations!

Original air date: Wednesday, November 27, 2019. 

Dartmouth professor Colin Calloway puts the Native American leaders that influenced George Washington in focus in his book, The Indian World of George Washington: The First President, the First Americans, and the Birth of the Nation. We discuss Washington's experiences with Native leaders, and how these relationships shaped his policy. 

Original air date: Tuesday, November, 26, 2019. 

With Thanksgiving approaching, we consider our agricultural heritage in the Granite State.  We talk with a few of the farmers who produce our food in this state to find out about the challenges that come with making a living off the land, take a look at challenges for farming in the future, especially in a warming climate, and we discover the joys of working with the earth and animals. Air Date: Monday, November 25, 2019

All week, we've heard public testimony from US diplomats and government staff about allegations that President Trump was using military aid to Ukraine to leverage an investigation into his political opponents. We want to hear your thoughts - what stood out to you, and what are your questions?

Original air date: Friday, November 22, 2019

Current use is a land taxation program that aims to encourage open space through lower tax rates for forests, and farms.  However, it’s been scrutinized in a state with a heavy reliance on property taxes.  We look at how current use has shaped our landscape, and the role it plays in conservation, economic development, recreation, and land use.

Original air date: Monday, November 18th. 

Candidates are courting voters in the Hawkeye state, as they are in New Hampshire -- but some with notable differences in terms of time, money, and the issues.  We check in on the campaign in Iowa, and look at efforts to make the caucus system more inclusive. 

This show originally aired Thursday, November 14.

Congress begins public hearings as part of the impeachment process of President Trump, following a whistleblower complaint into use of presidential authority to pressure the Ukranian government to  investigate Trump's Democratic opponents. What can past presidential impeachment inquiries tell us about the process, and what should we expect going forward? 

Don't miss Civics 101's "Extra Credit" on presidential impeachments, and listen to their episode on impeachment.  Read on for highlights from this conversation. 

Original air date: Wednesday, November 13, 2019. 

With landfills filling up and in some cases closing, New Hampshire's options for disposing solid waste are dwindling. We examine how communities might do a better job of diverting waste -- by reducing, reusing, or recycling it -- and what a new legislative report says about how the state should address these challenges.

Air Date: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019

The Vietnam War is largely recalled as a mistake, either in the decision to engage there or in the nature of the engagement.  Veterans of the war remain largely anonymous figures.  Enduring Vietnam recounts the experiences of the young Americans who fought in Vietnam and of families who grieved those who did not return. We talk with author James Wright about the “baby boomers” who grew up in the 1950s, why they went into the military,  how they describe serving in “Nam” and their experiences coming home.

This program was originally broadcast on 4/27/17.

In a long-held political ritual, several presidential candidates file their paperwork at the Statehouse for the 2020 New Hampshire Primary, while Vice President Mike Pence files on behalf of President Trump. Cities around the state hold elections for mayor — and on whether to allow sports betting in their communities. And the Statehouse has been a busy place, as deadlines loom for committees to complete their work on156 retained bills from last session.

Original air date: Friday, November 8, 2019. 

The New Hampshire Primary 2020 Candidate Forum series on The Exchange continued Nov. 7 with Democrat Andrew Yang. The entrepreneur and political newcomer discusses domestic and foreign policy, as well as some of the ideas he's become known for, such as "universal basic income." 

Yang warns of automation endangering American jobs.  He says providing an income  of $1,000 to all Americans over 18 would help solve that problem by creating a "trickle-up" economy.

The Federal Reserve cuts interest rates again, amid concern about U.S. manufacturing health.  A new state housing task force releases its recommendations, to expand the supply of lower-priced options.  And as winter approaches, seasonal businesses are on the hunt for temporary workers.

Original air date: Wednesday, November 6, 2019. 

Lowering medical costs and increasing access to care are among the most important issues for many New Hampshire voters.

We examine how the candidates say they will address this, as well as the political context and core ideas within their proposals. 

Find NPR's breakdown of candidate proposals here. 

Original air date: Monday, November 4, 2019. 

In addition to hikers on N.H.'s many trails, there are also a growing number of  trail runners, backcountry skiers, bikers and climbers. As adventurers in New Hampshire's backcountry press at limits previously untested or left alone, this trend is joined by modern technologyin presenting a new series of challenges for rescuers and for society in general.   

The 100th anniversary of New Hampshire as the first in the nation primary officially begins as the candidate filing period kicks off this week. Elizabeth Warren's campaign joins the suit calling for a pause in the residency law, HB 1264, currently being challenged in court.  And wet weather delays Halloween for some towns.

Our New Hampshire Primary 2020 Candidate Forum series continues with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, before a live audience. Listen or watch the interview below to get her views on the economy, taxes, foreign policy, climate change, and more. 

Democratic presidential candidate and former hedge-fund manager Tom Steyer sits down for an hour-long candidate forum in front of a live audience at New Hampshire Public Radio.

Air date: Monday, October 28, 2019. 

The next legislative session doesn't begin until January, but intriguing legislation is being shaped now in committee meetings at the statehouse, including banning assault weapons and importing low-cost drugs.  Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky officially enters the race for governor.  Municipal aid payments, part of the budget compromise, begin reaching cities and towns. And vaping devices are included in some N.H. city's drug take-back day. 

Across the country, we're having more conversations about how slavery is taught in our schools, and the importance of understanding slavery for contextualizing the rest of our nation's history. How do students learn about slavery, and what are the gaps, challenges, and effective curriculums?

Original air date: Thursday, October 24, 2019. 

Supporters of a new bail statute say it ends discrimination against poor defendants who had been forced to stay in jail when they couldn't afford bail. But police and others in law enforcement complain of unintentended consequences affecting public safety as they arrest the same people repeatedly. Now, all those with a stake in this system are revisiting the law to see if fixes are needed. 

From Syria to North Korea to Afghanistan, the next president will face huge challenges from abroad.  We find out what the candidates are saying about these issues of global importance -- and why they're not saying more.   

Air Date: Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019